Hot topics in November

Style check in Rio

Clothes don’t really feature very high on the scale of priorities in this city on the Atlantic coast – whenever they can, the sun-pampered Cariocas leave the house dressed in bikinis and bathing shorts. We asked some of the city’s trendsetters to put a few more clothes on for us – with very cool results

Derek, 24, photographer, is wearing an urban look - everything has to be super-comfortable. His outfit consists of a T-shirt by VLD, trousers by Pyramid, an YSL jacket

Alexandre, 25, designer, likes to look effortless. His cultural roots are expressed in his clothes, but very casually. He’s wearing shades by von Raen, T-shirt by Lazy Oaf, trousers by Insight, sneakers by Converse

Fashion designers from New York or Paris may tut about the casual, even careless style of the Cariocas, but there is a very simple reason for their distinctive look: it’s simply too hot! With temperatures regularly rising above 30° C nobody wants tight-fitting clothes or bulky fabrics. Loose-fitting, airy outfits feature strongly at the fashion shows. Like the rest of the world, Brazilian fashion tastes also change yearly, but they always remain faithful to one particular credo: beach romance meets urban style – the only rule being that it must never look cheap. Many big fashion chains have opened up stores around the Sugar Loaf, but the Cariocas still love to buy their favorite pieces from local fashion designers or browse through vintage stores for fashion gems. If there’s one thing that’s almost as important as casual clothes for Brazilian trend-setters, it’s individuality.